5 things you need to know as Irma approaches the Carolinas

Both storm surge and inland flooding, which cause the majority of deaths in tropical cyclones, remain a risk over the Southeast states.

SC is already feeling tropical force winds and gusts.

Irma weakened to a tropical storm Monday morning and is expected to further weaken by Tuesday to a tropical depression.

WIND: There is potential for moderate to major wind damage to trees and structures, leading to power outages.

Tornadoes could also spin up in coastal areas from northeast Georgia to southeast SC where a tornado watch was in effect. American Airlines said it won't resume flights in Miami until at least Tuesday while canceling 300 flights in Charlotte, North Carolina, due to wind. Flash floods hit downtown Charleston, South Carolina, while almost 1 million people in Georgialost power as the storm thumped the coast.

STORM SURGE: As hurricane Irma approaches water levels will continue to rise, bringing a flooding threat along the coast.

Rainfall forecast through Thursday from the National Weather Service.

While it has not been determined whether a tornado touched down in SC on Monday, Isle of Palms residents shared photos across social media appearing to show a water spout in the area of Fifth Avenue. Monday morning, tropical storm force winds (39+ mph) are possible in the area through Monday night. Bands of rain could produce one to three inches of rain in the Charlotte area. In a parting shot at Florida, Irma triggered severe flooding Monday in the state's northeast city of Jacksonville and the central city of Orlando.

Irma is a Tropical Storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour with higher gusts. Meanwhile, authorities have sent an aircraft carrier and other Navy ships to Florida to assist in search-and-rescue operations amid reports of devastation in the hurricane-battered Keys.